Florida Gators: Is the Gators’ defense officially back?

There is no denying or hiding the fact that the Florida Gators did not have their usual elite defense in 2020. It would be easier to describe the Gators’ defense as bad than it would be to make an argument that they were good. They allowed 30.8 points per game, the most ever by the Gators’ defense. The horrendous season was capped off by an embarrassing beat down against Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl, where the Sooners ended the game with a 50-burger, winning 55-20.

The most frustrating part of the Gators’ poor defense in 2020 was that their offense found its stride and was one of the country’s best units. Had Florida been able to find their rhythm on defense and get a few more stops, who knows just how good Florida would have been.

The fear for 2021 is that the offense will be solid again, but will you be able to trust the defense?

According to a tweet from Sports Illustrated’s AllGators’ Zach Goodall, “Florida’s defense in the team’s first spring scrimmage was described to me as “swarming.” The unit took advantage of what sounded like a lot of opportunities, particularly up front.”

To make that even better, another SI AllGator’s writer, Jacquie Franciulli, quote tweeted Goodall’s tweet and said, “Heard the defense had a few takeaways. Good day for that side of the ball on Friday.”

So what does this all mean? Well, it could mean nothing, as it is just Spring practice, and some days the defense will get the better of the offense. However, I think there is something to these reports.

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One main reason is that defensive coordinator Todd Grantham spoke to the media and seemed very confident, which is a good sign for a guy Gators’ fan

s wanted to be fired after last season’s disaster.

Grantham was over the 2020 season and looking forward to 2021, saying, “I want to talk about this year and moving forward. The issues and reasons before are really irrelevant now in the sense that it is what it is. We’re going to play good this year.”

That is a bold statement from Grantham, but after seeing that the Gators’ defense is also getting praise outside of its defensive coordinator, Gators fans should be feeling good.

Time will tell if they get back to their elite form that many have been accustomed to seeing, but I think it is time to start asking ourselves, is the Gators’ defense officially back?